Contests: The Southwest Voice

Youths with Big Hearts Making a Difference

The Saffell children love animals, and over the past year have fostered 6 abandoned puppies and 5 abandoned kittens who needed to be bottle fed. When the animals are old enough to be adopted, we drive the pets over to The Woods Animal Shelter in San Luis Obispo ( a no kill shelter ) and there the animals are given a microchip, and spayed/or neutered.

Also this weekend the Saffell children cashed in their aluminum cans, which they usually deposit the money into their bank acct. but chose to purchase turkey s for the KDUV-radio station Salvation Army Drive to feed the hungry at Thanksgiving time.

These children are true givers with big hearts and will make huge differences in the world !!

We love all the kind things you do for others !!

Meet your new Teen, Miss and Mrs Bakersfield!

The 16^th Annual Bakersfield Pageant took place last Saturday, November 8^th at the Bride Bible Church . Over 530 people attended to see who the new Teen, Miss & Mrs. Bakersfield title holders would be from a field of 35 outstanding contestants. The theme was “Salute to Our Veterans” (which was appropriate since it was Veterans Day weekend.)

The teen contestant crowned that evening, Erica George, got a surprise visit from her brother Zack Julien, serving in the Army. Stationed in Texas and going to Iraq in January, a loving brother with last minute weekend leave flew into Bakersfield to support his sister. What a touching moment it was!

                                                The winners are:

    Teen Miss Bakersfield (Erica George) a 16 year old Junior from Bakersfield Christian H.S.
    Miss Bakersfield , (Angelica August) a 20 year old student at Bakersfield College.

    Mrs. Bakersfield, (Rhenana Grimes) the mother of three little girls and works as a sign language interpreter at a local elementary school.

Teen Court: 1^st Runner-up (April Mitchell) 2^nd Runner-up (Jessica Martinez)

Miss Court: 1^st Runner-up (Heather O’Conner) 2^nd Runner-up (Kirby Krausgrill)

The Four Points Sheraton hosted the judges’ accommodations, the Elephant Bar hosted the Judges’ Dinner and the California Pizza Kitchen hosted all of contestants at a dress rehearsal dinner.

Prizes included a cash scholarship from Wells Acoustics & Alta One Credit Union, tiaras from Daniel’s Jewelers, trophies, flowers, a photo package, fitness memberships, personal training, restaurant certificates, jewelry, facials etc. Winners will advance on to the California International state pageant which will be held in Los Angeles next August 2009.

The Southwest Voice Pumpkin Carving Contest

This Halloween, we asked Southwest Voice readers to submit photos of their creatively carved pumpkins. Possibly deterred by tough economic times, or the fact that pumpkin patches were practically non-existent this year, we did not receive many submissions. However, we did receive a few snapshots of kids in their creative costumes and a spectacular “super pumpkin” created from lights - our winner. We’d like to share those submissions with all of you and encourage you to be on the lookout for the next big contest!

Win a Free Christmas Wedding from The Kern County Bridal Association

Click here for more information and to Enter

Kern County Bridal Association is pleased to announce the Annual Christmas Parade Float Wedding Give-Away.

Members of Kern County Bridal Association sponsor the annual free wedding, which will take place atop the Bridal Association's Float on December 4, 2008. The Bride and Groom will be selected from applications provided to the Association to receive a complete Wedding and Cake Reception sponsored by Kern County Bridal Association to include:

Bridal Gown sponsored by Ladies & Gents Bridal Gallery
Groom's Tuxedo sponsored by Mr. Tuxedo
Cake & Punch Reception for 50 guests sponsored by The Links at RiverLakes Ranch
Photographs sponsored by With Love Photography
Wedding Coordinator sponsored by Bella Noche Events
Limousine Service sponsored by Vintage Limousine
Disc Jockey services sponsored by Good Time Entertainment
Invitations sponsored by Be Our Guest Wedding Invitations
Officiant sponsored by Reverend Albert M. Haywood
Bride's Hairstyle sponsored by Hair by Carleen
3-Day 2-Night Getaway Accommodation Vacation provided by Kern County Bridal Association

*More may be offered closer to the event.

Click here for more information and to Enter

"The Association is proud to sponsor this annual community event", says founder Kyle Brown, "This will be our third year, and we can't wait! With the tough economic times, we're finding more and more people who just can't afford a big wedding with family and friends. This gives at least one lucky couple the opportunity to share their wedding with the entire city of Bakersfield. It's a 'Happy Holidays' wish from all of us in the Kern County Bridal Association".

Applications will be accepted beginning November 12th at 9am and ending Wednesday, November 20th at 5pm, and there is no cost to participate. Application forms are available at participating sponsors, online at www.TheBestWeddings.com and at The Wedding Center, 531 H Street in Bakersfield. Winners will be announced November 21st. For more information, contact Kern County Bridal Association offices in The Wedding Center, 661.633.9200.

Click here for more information and to Enter

2007 Winners Tracy and Richard

2006 Winners Alice and Andy

Click here for more information and to Enter

halloween contest

super pumpkin !!

Morgan the monster bride

Normally bright as sunshine, Morgan Freiburg went dark & spooky as a monster bride this Halloween! Ooooh, scary!

South High Halloween Band

Pumpkin carving contest

Armand will dress up as Despereaux Tilling from Kate DiCamillo's "The Tale of Despereaux." We finished reading it last week and were able to convert an old costume I made for him into this year's duds.

¡HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Soon to be:

Pumpkin carving contest!

Our mutli-talented copy editor, Debbie Weaver, got into the spooky spirit over the weekend, carving a Southwest Voice inspired pumpkin.

Show off your own trick pumpkin carving skills and we'll treat you to dinner at a favorite Southwest haunt. Snap a photo of your creatively carved pumpkin - don't forget to include the kids in their costumes - and post it in a reply to this announcement.

The winner will be announced in the Nov. 12 issue of The Southwest Voice.

LOCAL DOG EARNS HERDING CHAMPIONSHIP

After taking the year off from competing in agility with his Australian Kelpie Spooky.

Local Dog Earns Sheep herding Championship..

After a few years of hard work and training, and a long hard year of herding trials this year.. Local dog owner Eddy Aldridge and his 6 year old Australian Kelpie Deerwoods Sheila.

Earned their Australian Shepherd Culb Of America, Started, Open, High In Trial, and Advanced sheep herding titles.

They also earned their Amercian Herding Breed Association, Started and Advanced, Herding Trial Arena Dog Sheep herding Titles.

Their Amercian Herding Breed Association, Advanced Herding Ranch Dog title, Sheep"

Their Advanced Ranch title "goats"

Started, Open, and Advanced Ranch Large Flock title, using over 100 head of sheep..

Sunday Oct 26th, 2008 Deerwoods Sheila also earned her Amercian Herding Breed Association, Championship title..In Pescadero Ca, Winning the Advanced Ranch Goat Trial.. With a score of 94,1/2 out of 100.

Other awards earned this year were Cal Poly Pomona herding trial High In Trial..

IEHDA High In Trial..

She was also San Joaquin Valley Border Collie Association Novice High Point dog 2008.. Along with may other awards..

Whats next ? I dont know ? Maybe we will go for the Pro Novice Dog of the year..

But I think I am going to take some time off from a few of the herding trials to get my other dog Spookys agility Championship..

In my spare time, I also teach obedience class and volunteer for the Kern County Animal Control offsite adoption day at PetCo on Rosedale hwy, every first Saturday of the month...

Stop by say hi, we may have your next pet..

Eddy Aldridge

Voice on Vacation

We just got home from a week in New Hampshire to see all the fall foliage. We took our SW Voice with us and gave them to the kind lady who took our picture holding the magazines.

Youth Athletes of the Month

Taja Pickett and Zaire Pickett are brother and sister who attend Buena Vista Elementary School. Taja is in the sixth grade and Zaire is in the third. They both attend Hans Tae Kwon Do Academy, here in Bakersfield. Taja and Zaire both started Tae Kwon Do in 2008 and have advanced beyond anything I could have ever dreamed for. Earlier this year Zaire won Gold at the Junior Olympic National Qualifier making him the U.S. Western Regional Champion and just last weekend at the California Junior Championships in Fullerton California, he took Gold in sparring. His older sister Taja, won the National Championship at the Junior Olympics held in Detroit Michigan in July, additionally, she also won Gold in sparring at the California Junior Championships this last weekend. They both plan on training very hard and competing at future tournaments in hopes of having another great performance at the 2009 Junior Olympics. As their Father I couldnt be prouder of their how hard they work. The wins are great but just them trying their best makes me so happy and I love them very much.

Win the next photo contest!

No haunted house is complete without a jack-o-lantern lighting up the front porch. So for this year’s Halloween photo contest, The Southwest Voice wants to see how creative you got while carving your pumpkin! Snap a photo of the final product — don’t forget to include the kids in their costumes — and submit your picture by Nov. 3 by visiting: www.swvoice.com and clicking on the contest link.

Youth Athlete of the Month

Olivia Bryant is an 11 year old black belt, in the art and sport of taekwondo. She finished first winning the gold medal in the 11-12 lightweight division at the annual Jimmy Kim Invitational Taekwondo Championship (http://www.thejki.com) held on Saturday, September 27, 2008 at the Walter Pyramid on the campus of California State University, Long Beach.

Olivia had three fights on her way to the gold winning the first two by
point gap (7 point gap ends the contest). Her first match was against
Evangeline Tsai of California which ended 11-4 her second match of the day
was against Rebeca Acuna of Mexico 7-0, with the final victory over Justine
Junio of California which ended in a much closer 8-6 win for Olivia.

The clear high point of the day was the fight with Rebeca Acuna which left
those in attendance in shock. In a match that was scheduled for two 90
second rounds, Olivia reached the point gap ending the match in an
unprecedented 15 seconds. The entire match can be seen here. (
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYrN4xARWss).

This marks the beginning of her 2008-2009 tournament season and she's off to
a great start! More information on her upcoming competitions & training,
will be posted on her website at www.teamlibbytkd.com. Team Libby Taekwondo
- Because Champions Don't Start Training At 35!